Winter Fuel Payment

What is a Winter Fuel Payment?

This is a yearly payment made to eligible people aged 60 or over to help towards their heating bills in winter.

This money is tax-free.

Most people do not need to claim, they will get this automatically.

You do not need to be on benefits.

Can I get a Winter Fuel Payment?

You may get this if you meet the right conditions in the qualifying week (3rd week in September).

You will not usually be able to get a Winter Fuel Payment if during the qualifying week you are:

• living in a care home, independent hospital or Ilford Park Polish Resettlement Home (and have been for 12 weeks or more) and get income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit
• in hospital getting free in-patient treatment (and have been for more than 52 weeks)
• in custody serving a sentence set by a court, or
• under immigration control and not eligible for help from the Department for Work and Pensions.

What are the benefit rates?

Winter Fuel Payments are paid to help with winter fuel bills each year. All eligible households that include someone aged 60 or over can get the payments. There is extra money for eligible households that include someone aged 80 or over in the qualifying week. The amount paid depends on your household circumstances

People aged 60 - 79

If during the qualifying week:

• you live alone or are the only eligible person in your household, you should get £250
• you qualify for and receive Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, you should get £250
• there is more than one eligible person in the household - and you do not get Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance - you should each get £125
• you live in a care home and do not get Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, you should get £125.

People aged 80 or over

If during the qualifying week:

• you live alone or are the only eligible person in your household, you should get £400
• you received Pension Credit, you should get £400
• there is another eligible person in the household who is aged 80 or over (and you do not get Pension Credit) or you were in a care home, you should get £200.
• You are the only person aged 80 or over, others in your household are aged 60-79, you should get £275

Winter Fuel Payment for Couples 

Couples getting Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance will only get one payment made to the person receiving that benefit. Other couples will get £125 each if they both are aged 60 or over and entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment.

Additional Payment for Winter 2008-09

All eligible people will get an additional payment for winter 2008/09 of £50 for households with someone aged 60-79 and £100 for households with someone aged 80 or over. This additional payment is included in the amounts shown above.

Qualifying weeks

For Winter 2008-2009: 15 – 21 September

We must get your claim by 30 March 2009 in order to pay your Winter Fuel Payment for 2008-2009

Winter Fuel Payment helpline

Phone: 0845 915 1515

Textphone: 0845 601 5613

Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm

Website: www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel

How do I claim?

If you have had a Winter Fuel Payment before, you should get it without claiming as long as your details are up to date and you still meet the conditions.

If you have not had a Winter Fuel Payment before, do not get benefits or you only get Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit, you will need to make a claim.

When do I claim?

If you need to claim, send us your claim form quickly. If you can get a Winter Fuel Payment and we get your claim by the Friday of the September qualifying week we can pay you by Christmas. We cannot always pay you by Christmas if we receive your claim after this.

When do I get paid?

We will make automatic payments between early November and Christmas each year. If you have not received a payment by Christmas, please call the office that normally pays your benefit or the Winter Fuel Payment helpline.

If you get a Winter Fuel Payment this winter and you continue to meet the conditions, you should get your payment automatically in the future, as long as you let us know about any changes in your circumstances straight away.

More information can be found in the leaflet 'The Social Fund'.

 The Social Fund (684.78kb)

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